Korean Air Lines Co., Korea's top air carrier, said Tuesday that it will offer business class tickets to speed skater Lee Sang-hwa free of charge for one year.

The tickets are set to be provided to Lee when she participates in either an international competition or overseas training, the carrier said.

Lee captured the gold medal in the women's 500 meters at both the Sochi Winter Games in 2014 and the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010.

The sponsorship, called the excellence program, is meant to provide business class tickets to those who enhance South Korea's international standing in sports, cultural and academic fields.

Other recipients of the excellence program include South Korean rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-jae, who ranked fifth in the individual all-around at the 2012 London Olympics. (Yonhap)